Flood situation grim in Assam, some improvement in Bihar

Majuli (Assam), Sept 7 : The flood situation in Assam continues to remain grim with the river island Majuli being the worst affected.

Life is still at a standstill for people in the state and communications too have been badly hit.

With an estimated 2.1 million people displaced and 24 dead so far, there are also fears of an epidemic breaking out, official sources said.

The worst hit districts are Dhubri, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Morigaon, where the situation is still critical.

The Centre has sanctioned over 783 crore to the Assam Government to take up immediate relief measures among the flood-ravaged people.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Saturday that there is no dearth of funds and that the affected people will be adequately compensated.

Launching a scathing attack on the opposition parties for raising hue and cry over the Prime Minister's allotment of Rs 1,000 crore for flood-hit Bihar, he said the parties are trying to gain cheap political mileage over the issue.

The Chief Minister alleged that during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime at the Centre and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Government in the state the economy was in the "red" with developmental activities coming to a standstill.

During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, a task force was constituted to tackle flood and erosion problems and the state had got much more fund than what was given by the previous governments, he said.

"During the NDA rule, the allocation under calamity relief fund was only Rs 398.47 crore while the Congress Government has provided Rs 1,743.30 crore apart from Central Government-sanctioned Rs 431.70 crore for anti-erosion work in the state during 2008-09, Gogoi said. "We have been taking all measures to provide relief also and for relief also I have got a fund. The state administration has opened 279 relief camps for flood-affected people," Gogoi added.

Meanwhile in Bihar, flood situation is gradually improving in Saharsa, Supaul and Araria Districts after Kosi waters receded in these areas.

But flood waters have engulfed fresh areas in Katihar and Purnea Districts. In Madhepura, there has been a sudden rise in water level. Threat of epidemic looms large over the areas from where the flood waters have receded, sources said.

After meeting the Prime Minister in New Delhion Saturday, Prasad said that he has requested the Dr. Manmohan Singh to call a meeting of all Ministries for setting up a task force.

"I have requested the Prime Minister and I have given him a report too. I also gave a suggestion that something needs to be urgently done for hundreds of thousands of people who are suffering. I told him that a compensation of one lakh rupees as promised should be given to each of the victims who are suffering," said Prasad.